President Bola Tinubu has extended his working vacation by a few days and is expected to return to Nigeria at the weekend, the Presidency announced on Monday.
According to a statement by the president’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu departed Nigeria on August 30 for London, where he began his working vacation before travelling to Paris, France, after spending about a week in the United Kingdom.
While in Paris, the president held meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré, whose media interests include Canal+, MultiChoice and Universal Music Group.
The Presidency said Tinubu had remained in contact with officials in Nigeria and continued to direct government affairs from abroad.
It cited the President’s directive for an independent panel to investigate the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in Minna following their detention by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) as one of the decisions taken during his absence.
Tinubu had also delegated Vice President Kashim Shettima to represent him at some official functions while he remained abroad.
Shettima departed Abuja on September 20 for New York to represent Nigeria at the 81st United Nations General Assembly, where he is expected to deliver Nigeria’s national statement.
With the vice president in New York, the Presidency said Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, would continue representing Tinubu at official events.
Meanwhile, the Presidency disclosed that Senator Abubakar Yari, Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council, had been leading consultations involving prominent party leaders and traditional rulers across the country.
Tinubu’s continued absence from Nigeria has also drawn criticism from former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, who questioned why the President would not personally attend the United Nations General Assembly.
The Presidency dismissed the criticism, describing Atiku’s comments and those of a United States-based lobbying firm as “baseless insinuation” and irresponsible.
It stressed that Shettima was representing Tinubu at the global gathering and would present Nigeria’s national statement.
“The Vice President, who is representing the President at the global conference, will present Nigeria’s national statement,” the Presidency said.
